THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. *J
of Scripture contended about by the learned Grotius, as also, on several occasions, the arguments and answers of most of the chief propugners of Mr Biddle's religion. Now, besides your interest in the truths pleaded for, there are other considera- tions also inducing me to a persuasion that this endeavour of mine will not be unacceptable unto you. Mr Biddle's Catechisms, as I said, being carried over and dispersed in sundry places of the United Provinces, the professors of their academies (who have all generally learned the English tongue, to enable them for the under- standing of the treatises of divinity in all kinds written therein, which they begin to make use of to the purpose) cry out against them, and professedly undertake the refutation thereof. Now, certainly it cannot be for our advantage in point of repute amongst them, that they (who are yet glad of the occasion) should be enforced to undertake the confutation of a book written by one who styles himself a master of arts of this university (which they also take notice of), wherein they are so httle concerned, the poison of it being shut up from their people under the safe custody of an unknown tongue. Nicolaus Arnoldus, the profe.-sor of divi- nity at Fi'aneker, gives an account of this book, as the most subtile insinuation of the Socinian religion that ever was attempted, and promises a confutation of it.
Maresius, professor at Groningen, a man well known by his works published, goes farther, and, on the account of these Catechisms, charges the whole nation and the governors of it with Socinianism ; and, according to the manner of the man, raises a fearful outcry, affirming that that heresy hath fixed its metropolitical seat here in England, and is here openly professed, as the head sect in the nation, dis- playing openly the banners of its iniquity : all which he confirms by instancing in this book of a master of arts of the university of Oxford. ' Of his rashness in censuring, and his extreme ignorance of the state of affairs here amongst us, which yet he undertakes to relate, judge, and condemn, I have given him an account, in a private letter to himself.
Certainly, though we deserved to have these reproaches cast upon us, yet of all men in the world those who live under the protection and upon the allowance of the United Provinces are most unmeet to manage them ; their incompetency in sundry respects for this service is known to all. However, it cannot be denied but that, even on this account (that it may appear that we are, as free from the guilt of the calumnious insinuations of Maresius, so in no need of the assistance of Arnoldus for the confutation of any one arising among ourselves speaking perverse things to draw disciples after him), an answer from some in this place unto those Catechisms was sufficiently necessary. That it is by Providence fallen upon the hand of one more unmeet than many others in this place for the performance of this work and duty, I doubt not but you will be contented withal ; and I am bold to hope that neither the truth nor your own esteem will too much suffer by my en- gagement herein. Yea (give me leave to speak it), I have assumed the confidence to aim at the handling of the whole body of the Socinian religion, in such a way and manner as that those who are most knowing and exercised in these contro- versies may find that which they will not altogether despise, and younger students
1 " Prodiit hoc anno in Anglia, authore Johanne Bklello, artium magislro, pneumatomacho, duplex Catecliesis Scripturaiia, Anglico idiomate typis evulgata, qua sub nomine religionis Christians purum putum Sociniaiiismum, orbi Christiano obtrutlere satagit. Quanquam autem non videatur velle So- ciniaiius halieri ; attamen cujus sit ingetiii, sub finem libelli prodit, cum commendat librum cui titu- lus, • The life of that incomparable man, Faustus Socinus t^enensis,' phrasin Scripturte ad dogmata mere Sociniana ita <letorsit, ut nemo ante eiim liieresin istam tarn frandulenter instillaiit; larvam iUi de- trahere post dies canicular^ s, cum Deo est animus."— Nicol. Arnold, praef ad lector.
" Necessaiium est hoc tristi tempore, quo Sociniana pestis, quam haud immerito dixeris omnis im- pietatis azpo^oXit, videtur nunc in vicina Anglia sedem sibi metropolitanam fixisse, nisi quod isthic facile admittat ei bella cruenta, et judicia capitalia severissima, sub quorum umbone c.revit. Nam inter varias liaereses, quibusfelix ilia (juond ira insula et orthodoxia; tenacissima hodie conspurcatur, tantura eminet Socinianismus, quantum 'leuta solent inter viburna Cupressi;' nee enim aniplius ibi horrenda sua mysteria mussitat in angulis, sed sub dio explicat omnia vexilla sua; iniquitatis : non loquor iucoraperta, benevole lector. Mndo eiiim ex Anglia allatus est Anglica lingua coiiscriptus Catechismus duplex, mujor et minor, Londini publice excusus, hoc anno 1654, apud Jac. Coterell, et Hich. Moone, etc , authore .Johanne BidcUo, magistro artium Oxoniensi, etc." — Sam. Mares. Ilyd. Socin. Befut. torn. ii. pracfat. ad lect.
8 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
that wht-reby they m;iy profit. To this end I have added the Racovian Catechism, as I said hei'ore, to Rlr Biddle's; -which as I A'i'as urged to do by many worthy persons in this university, so I was no way discouraged in the pubhshing of ray answer thereunto by the view I took of Arnoldus' discourse to the same purpose, and that for such reasons as I shall not express, but leave the whole to the judg- ment of the reader.